Cops: Fayette County woman said she spent stimulus money on drugs

A woman who told state troopers that she spent most of her federal CARES Act stimulus check on drugs became irate early Tuesday after marijuana, THC wax, and 70 anti-anxiety pills were confiscated from her during a traffic stop in Rostraver, police said.

Trooper Randy Williams said Madison M. Beeghley, 21, of Dunbar, Fayette County, told him she bought the drugs “to spoil her girlfriend” when she was pulled over at 1 a.m. along Route 51 for suspicion of driving under the influence.

When troopers Bryan McKee and Williams placed her under arrest, Williams reported Beeghley “became irate again, screaming and throwing her body around” as she was put into the patrol car.

Williams said in court papers that troopers allowed Beeghley’s sedan to pass their patrol car about 1 a.m. along Route 51 near Ridge Road because it began following too closely.

After Beeghley passed, troopers said her car crossed the center line several times and they clocked her driving 65 mph in a 45 mph zone. They stopped her when she began tailgating a garbage truck.

“I exited my patrol unit and approached the vehicle on the driver’s side and immediately smelled an odor of raw marijuana coming from inside the vehicle,” Williams said.

Williams said Beeghley initially denied any drugs were in the car. Police reported her speech was slurred and they conducted a probable cause search when the drugs were found.

Police said Beeghley refused a blood test.

She was released Tuesday from the Westmoreland County Prison on $25,000 unsecured bond after her arraignment on several counts of possession of a controlled substance and single charges of careless driving, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving under the influence, driving on the wrong side of the highway and following too closely.

A preliminary hearing is May 18 before Rostraver District Judge Charles Christner.